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Patented Nov. 29, I898. D. A. SEAMANS.

W R E N C H (Applicatiun filed Apr. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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DANIEL A. SEAMANS, OF CUMBERLAND, RIIODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOHN E. FOGARTY, OF SAME PLACE.

WRENCH;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 614,993, datedNovember as, me. Application filed April 14, 1898. Serial No- 677,567.(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. SEAMANS, of Cumberland, county ofProvidence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in WVrenohes; and I do hereby declare the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a wrench of simpleconstruction and one in which the movable jaw may be quickly andconveniently adjusted to nuts or bolts of varying size and in which themovable jaw will be automatically locked and firmly held in its adjustedposition. To these ends the invention consists in the features andcombinations hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In a wrench embodying the present improvements in the preferred form themovable jaw is held in position by a wedge-shaped block interposedbetween the bar of the wrench and said movable jaw and yieldingly heldin engagement therewith by a spring. The edge of the bar engaged by thewedge is preferably provided with serrations which are engaged bycorresponding serrations upon the wedge. When the movable jaw is movedtoward the fixed jaw, the spring yields to allow the serrations on thewedge to ride over the serrations on the bar; but when it is attemptedto move the jaw away from the stationary jaw the jaw acts to crowd thewedge down against the bar, and the greater the pressure upon the jawthe more firmly will the wedge be pressed against the bar. Thus themovable jaw may be readily slid along the bar toward the fixed jaw andis automatically locked against backward movement. \Vhen it is desiredto move the movable jaw away from the ii-Xed jaw, the wedge is drawnback against the tension of the spring and at the same time raised awayfrom the bar by a tailpiece secured to the wedge and passing over afulcrum on the movable jaw.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrenchembodying the present improvements in their preferred form, and Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view.

As shown in the drawings, the handle of the wrench consists of a metalbar 1, at the end of which is formed the stationary jaw 9. The movablejaw 3 is mounted to slide upon the bar 1 and is held in position uponsaid bar by a wedge-shaped block 4, one face of which engages the bar 1and the other face of which engages an incline 5 upon the movable jaw.The wedge is held in engagement with jaw 3 and the bar 1 by a spring 6,which isinterposed between the back of the wedge and. a shoulder 10 uponthe jaw. The edge of the bar 1 against which the wedge bears ispreferably provided with serrations 2 and the engaging face of the wedgewith corresponding serrations.

lVith the above construction the jaw 3 may be slid along the bar to movesaid jaw toward the jaw 9, and is automatically locked by thespring-pressed wedge, which yields to allow the forward movement of thejaw; but is forced against the bar 1 by any backward pressure upon thejaw, the force with which the wedge is pressed against the bar 1increasing with the backward pressure on the aw.

In order that the jaw 3 may be conveniently moved back away from the jaw9, the wedge 4 is provided with a rearwardly-projecting tailpiece 7,which passes through the spring 6 and through the shoulder 10 and isprovided with an upwardly-curved end. The tailpiece overlies a pin 8,which forms a fulcrum for said tailpiece. When it is desired to' movethe jaw 3 away from the jaw 9, this may be readily done by pressing thecurved end of the tailpiece to raise and withdraw the wedge, when thejaw will slide freely in either direction and will be automaticallylocked against backward movement when the tailpiece is released.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a wrench, a bar provided with serrations, a movable jaw slidingthereon, a wedge engaging said movable jaw, and provided with serrationsengaging the serrations on said bar, and a spring for yieldingly holdingsaid wedge in engagement with said jaw and bar, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a wrench, a bar having serrations, a movable jaw mounted to slidethereon, a serrated wedge engaging said jaw and bar, and having arearwardly-projeeting tailpiece, a

spring interposed between said Wedge, and a shoulder on said jaw, and afulcrum on said 10 jaw for said tailpiece, substantially as described.

, DANIEL A. SEAMANS.

Vitnesses:

R. A. Barns, W. II. THURSTON.

